Folding table.



w. E.- ALLEN, 'FoLmNG TABLE. APPLICATION FILED JANLI. 191,3.

1,2"1'4,.'973.l Patented Aug. 6, v1918.

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WILLIAM E. ALIEN, 0F GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO -KLINGMANS SAMPLE FURNITURE CO., 0F GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION OF MICHIGAN.

FOLDING TABLE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 6, 1918.

Application led January 14, 1918. Serial No. 211,891.

To all whom z't may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM E. ALLEN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Grand Rapids, in the county of Kent and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Folding Tables, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in folding tables, and its objects are: first, to provide a means whereby the table will, normally, incline to fold. Second, to provide a means whereby the table will remain in folded position without danger of unfolding, and without the necessity of applying fastenings of any kind in the edges. Third, to provide a cross legged folding table with whichA there will be no inclination of the lower ends of the legs spreading when the table is spread and loaded.

I attain these objects by the mechanism and construction shown in the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is an edge elevation of the table folded, and showing the position of the several parts in outline when the table is spread. Fig. 2 is a bottom plan of the table showing the relative positions of its several parts when spread. Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the legs showing the means applied for bringing about the several objects stated. Fig. 4 is an edge view of the table top with the legs and leg supports removed to show the manner of firmly locking the table in place when spread, and Fig. 5 is a like view of the table top showing the relative positions of the leg supports and the locking cleats.

Similar reference characters indicate similar parts throughout the several views.

In the construction of this table I pivot the adjacent edges of the top l together with blind hinges, as indicated at 5, so they may be readily folded together in the position indicated in Fig. 1, and so that when spread, as in Fig. 2 and indicated by the dotted lines in Fig. 1, the hinges will not be visible. I, also, pivot or hinge wings 3 to the lower surface of the top, as at 4, in Fig. 1, and secure the upper ends of the legs 2 to these wings, the legs being pivotally connected at 6, forming a cross leg construction of legs.

The cleats 7 and 7 are placed upon the lower surface of the top for two purposes: first, to prevent the sections of the top from warping, and, second, to form a substantial and reliable base for the support of the locking elements. My device for locking the table in place when spread consists of a latch 8, pivotally mounted upon the cleats 7, as at 10, and made to interlock with a catch 9 that is secured to the cleat 7. This, in connection with the hinged connection of the two halves of the top and with the leg connections forms a loc-king mechanism that is firm and absolutely reliable. The leg cleats or wings 3 are so formed, at their longitudinal centers, that they will pass over the cleats 7, as indicated in Fig. 5.

My mechanism for carrying the table into folded position consists of a helical spring 12 placed around the bolt 6, which is made square at the head end, as at 11, and round at 18, the spring being anchored into the bolt at 15, and the other end, 14, being an.- chored in the slot 13 in the leg 1 I chamber the legs, as at 19, for the reception of the spring 12. It will be readily understood that with this construction the spring 12 may be strained to anv desired tension when assembling the legs and before attaching them to the cleats or wings 3. This device does away, entirely, with the necessity of placing any form of locking device upon the top of the table to hold it in folded position, and insures a firm, rigid, unyielding top when the table is spread and locked with the latch 8.

If desired a hook and hasp may be connected with the edges of the top, as at A, to hold them iirmly together and avert the danger of warping when the table is in folded position. Also, a stop B may be placed back of the free end of the latch 8 to prevent it from passing through beyond the edge of the catch 9.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is:

In folding table construction, a top centrally divided in halves and pvotally connected, :t cross leg supporting construction bolt, and at the other end to one of the legs,

pivotally connected With the top, ad' and a locking device to hold the table open bolt pivo'tally connecting theV legs near against the tension'ofthe spring.

their longitudinal center, seid legsl cham- Signed at Grand'Rapids, Michigan, Janu- 10 5 bored around the bolt in theii adjacent sides, ary 10, 1918.

a. helical spring vanchored at one end to the WILDIAM EAALLEN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

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